Laser device

Abstract

A laser device includes a crystal array comprising a laser gain crystal and an optically nonlinear frequency conversion crystal, plus a pump source suitable for coupling at least two mutually spatially separated pump beams into said crystal array.

1 . A laser device, comprising 
 a crystal array comprising a laser gain crystal and an optically nonlinear frequency conversion crystal, and    a pump source suitable for coupling at least two mutually spatially separated pump beams into said crystal array.    
   
   
       2 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said crystal array forms a resonator for at least two laser beams.  
   
   
       3 . The laser device as in  claim 2 , wherein said crystal array forms a plane-plane resonator.  
   
   
       4 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein a thermal lens is provided for each laser beam in said crystal array.  
   
   
       5 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein the number of laser beams coupled out of said crystal array is equal to the number of pump beams coupled into said crystal array.  
   
   
       6 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said frequency conversion crystal is suitable for increasing the frequency of at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation coupled thereinto.  
   
   
       7 . The laser device as in  claim 6 , wherein said frequency conversion crystal is suitable for at least doubling the frequency of at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation coupled thereinto.  
   
   
       8 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said gain crystal includes at least one of the following crystals: an Nd:YVO 4  crystal, an Nd:YAG crystal.  
   
   
       9 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said frequency conversion crystal includes one of the following crystals: SLN, SLT, KTP, RTP, KTA, RTA, CTA.  
   
   
       10 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , which is suitable for generating laser radiation with a wavelength of less than 600 nm.  
   
   
       11 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein the total power of the outcoupled laser beams is 0.5 W or more.  
   
   
       12 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein the beam path of said pump beams between said pump beam source and said crystal array is free of optical elements.  
   
   
       13 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein a plane-convex, aspherical cylinder lens is disposed between said pump source and said crystal array.  
   
   
       14 . The laser device as in  claim 13 , wherein said lens contains a GaP-based semiconductor material.  
   
   
       15 . The laser device as in  claim 13 , wherein an additional lens is disposed in the beam path of a pump beam between said cylinder lens and said crystal array.  
   
   
       16 . The laser device as in  claim 13 , wherein said cylinder lens and the additional lenses are integrated into a common lens rod.  
   
   
       17 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said pump source includes at least one diode laser bar.  
   
   
       18 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said pump source generates at least two laser beams extending parallel to one other.  
   
   
       19 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said pump source is suitable for generating at least two laser beams simultaneously.  
   
   
       20 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of any one laser beam generated by said pump source is no more than 150 μm on exit from said pump source.  
   
   
       21 . The laser device as in  claim 20 , wherein said diameter is no more than 50 μm.  
   
   
       22 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said crystal array comprises, between every two pump beams coupled into said crystal array, a saw kerf extending parallel to said pump beams.  
   
   
       23 . The laser device as in  claim 22 , wherein said saw kerfs extend over the full length of said crystal array.  
   
   
       24 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said crystal array is disposed on a substrate containing at least one of the following materials: copper, a copper composite material, silicon.  
   
   
       25 . The laser device as in  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the following fasteners is disposed between said crystal array and said substrate: glue, soft solder, hard solder.  
   
   
       26 . The laser device as in one of  claim 1 , wherein a heat-conducting element is disposed on said crystal array.  
   
   
       27 . The laser device as in  claim 26 , wherein said heat-conducting element contains at least one of the following materials: copper, a copper composite material, silicon.  
   
   
       28 . The laser device as in  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the following fasteners is disposed between said crystal array and said heat-conducting element: glue, soft solder, hard solder.  
   
   
       29 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises at least one recess that at least partially receives said crystal array.  
   
   
       30 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said heat-conducting element comprises at least one recess that at least partially receives said crystal array.  
   
   
       31 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said saw kerfs contain a filling material.  
   
   
       32 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises at least one projection that engages in a saw kerf of said crystal array.  
   
   
       33 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said heat-conducting element comprises a projection that engages in a saw kerf of said crystal array.  
   
   
       34 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein disposed after said crystal array is at least one concave mirror.  
   
   
       35 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein said concave mirror and the radiation entrance face, facing said pump source, of said gain crystal form a resonator for a laser beam.  
   
   
       36 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein exactly one concave mirror is assigned to each laser beam.  
   
   
       37 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein the concave mirrors are configured as a coherent strip.  
   
   
       38 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein the crystals of said crystal array form a crystal composite.  
   
   
       39 . The laser device as in  claim 1 , wherein at least two crystals of said crystal array are spaced apart from one other.  
   
   
       40 . The use of a laser device as in  claim 1  for one of the following devices: printer, lighting system, copier, scanner, projector, display device.